Exhaust-muffler.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903 A. WINTON.

EXHAUST MUFFLER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2. 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 723,111. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903.-

A. WINTON.

EXHAUST MUFFLER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. 1901.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

:UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER WINTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

EXHAUST-MUFFLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,1 11, dated March17, 1903. r

Application filed Dgcember 2, 1901. Serial No. 84.341. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER WINTON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of.Cuyahoga-and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Exhaust-Mufflers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvemen ts in exhaust-mufflers, and isespecially intended and adapted for use in connection with the exhaustof explosive-engines used as the motive power in automobiles.

The object of my present invention, generally speaking, is to provide anefficient muffler for use inconnection with explosivemotors,-aud theconstruction of my mufiler is such that it is simple as well asefiicient, is easily cleaned, is durable, is capable of ad justment toregulate the muflling eifect as desired, and is capable of throwing themufliing portion proper out of action to relieve the consequent backpressure, and thus increase the power of the engine according to thedesires of the chauffeur or to meet the necessities of any situation.requiring the full power of the motor. a

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a detachedperspective view of my improved muffler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalcentral sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a. view of the valve orgate end thereof. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4of Fig. 2 Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached view of a portion of themuffler, the surrounding perforate casing removed, and showing inenlarged perspective the mufiierplates. Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5.Fig.

7 is an enlarged detached central sectional wefiect...

view of several of the muffler-p1ates,illus-' my invention and in whichthe cylinder 1 is composed of a pluralityof centrally-perfo-v ness ornearness thereof may be various; but

my. preferred way'at present is that here illustrated and which includesa suitable number of screw-rods 4, situated outside of the plates,

which project from a suitable head or end piece, as 5, and through anadjustable head or end piece or plate 6 and carry upon theirprojectingends the heads or nuts 7, whereby the plates can be.compressed and the muffling efiect thereof thereby regulated.

As here shown,I'prefer to surround the plate-cylinder 2 by a perforatecasing 8, and which forms a surrounding auxiliary expansion-cha-mber'il,into which the gases and products of combustion enter after passingbetween the plates of the cylinder 1. This construction allows arelatively large expansion of the escaping gases, which' are furtherinterrupted by the surrounding casing 8, and they consequently issuefrom the casing when under comparatively slight pressure and inpractice, it is found, with but little noise.

' Myimproved muffler is preferablyprovided with an initialexpansion-chamber 10, which is in communication with the plate-cylinder1 and which permits an expansion of the escaping gases immediately'uponentering the muftlen. This chamber, as here shown, is located at one endof the plate-cylinder and is provided with an exhaust-inlet opening 11,with which the exhaust of the motor'is connected in any desired manner.When the mufiier is used in connection with a two-cylinder motor, theexhaust of one cylinder is con-' nected'with the said opening 11 and theexhaust of the other-cylinder is preferably connected with theinlet-opening 12 at the opposite end of'the cylinder 1, though thisrelative connecting arrangement of the exhausts carrying a nut andwasher 18, and a spiral flat rings) is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and

pose of" relieving the engine of. this back of a plurality of motors maybe varied. When but a single-cylinder motor is used, one of the saidopenings is closed by means of a suitable plug and the motor-exhaustconnected with the other opening, or the mufilqr may be constructed withbut one exhaust-inlet opening, as will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art. i

It is a well-recognized fact that exhaustmnfilers for motors cause aback pressure upon the motor-piston, and consequently reduce the powerof the motor. For the purpressure, and consequently enable the driver toobtain the full power of his engine when desired, I provide means forthrowing out or practically cutting off the action of the muffler. Themeans used by me consists in providing a cont-rolled escape for and incommunication with the motor-exhaust, whereby the exhaust may bepermitted to pass into the air without passing through themufliler-cylinder. This I prefer to accomplish in the manner here shown,and which consists in providing the chamberlO with one or moreescape-openings 1a and a, controlling valve or gate 15 therefor. Anoperating-rod 16 serves as means -for 'coptrolling the gate, and whichrod will connect with any suitable form of operating device (not hereshown) within reach of the driver. Preferably this gate or valve-isspring-pressed, whereby a tight joint is always insured and which alsoserves in the nature of a relief-valve for the pressure within the mufiler should it get too high. As here illustrated, the gate isintermediately pivoted upon acentrally-projecting rod 17,

spring 19 is located between the washer and valve. Preferably the nut iskeyed by a transverse pin 20'to prevent any possibility of its comingloose or detached.

The plates 2, which constitute the mufilingcylinder 1, are stamped fromthin sheet metal and are preferably left in their irregular shape asthey come from the press, the irregularity of the plates making moreeffective an adjustment of their mufiiing efiect under compression,though I do not limit my invention to such irregularity. Thisirregularity of the plates (which are here shown in the form of thespaces between the plates are also illustrated in the perspective viewFig. 5. By reference to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be noted that thisirregularity of the plates consists principally on account of theirtendency to a con-- cavo-convex in cross-section, which is the result ofthe stamping process. They are preferably placed in positionpromiscuously and without regard for the direction of the crosssectionalcontour of adjacent plates.

A muffler of the construction herein shown is easily disassembled forthe purpose of being cleaned. It is only necessary. to loosen the nuts 7and the screws 22, which latter serve to hold one end of the casing inplace, when the head 6, the casing 7, and plates constituting themuffling-cylinder can all be re-. moved and ready access had to allparts of the muffler that need attention.

While I here show the escapecasing 8 composed of perforated sheet metal,it will be readily understood that other forms of perforate casings maybe substituted therefor,

so long as it serves the function-of the form of casing here shown. Itwill also be understood that the cross-sectional contour of themufliing-cylinder may be varied and that instead of being of the shapehere shown may be made square or of other cross-sectional contour. Theuse of the term cylinderin the appended claims when used withoutqualification is meant to be generic and to include any form which has am uffling chamher or chambers with surrounding escapewalls.

I do not limit'myself to the specific construction herein shown, for itmay be varied without affecting the spirit of my invention; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, -is'- I 1. Amuffler having a muffling-chamber provided with a mufiiiug-escape, andayielding relief-valve independent of said mufflingescape.

2. A muffler having a combined automatically-acting yielding relief andmanuallyoperated escape valve.

3. A muffler including a muffling-chamber having its inner wall providedwith circumfer- 'entially-extendin g escape-passages,and a surroundingcasing closely perforated throughout its entire surface.

4. A mufiler including a mufiling-chamber composed of a plurality ofannular plates placed side by side, the inner edges of the platesconstituting the inner wall of said chamber. v

5. A mufiier'having a relief-opening, a valve for said opening, thevalve having an automatic yielding movement in one direction, andcapable of a positive movement in another direction.

6. A mufiler having a relief-opening, and a valve therefor having an'endwise-yielding and transverse movement in respect to said opening.

7. A mufller including a muffling-chamber composed of a plurality ofannular plates placed side by side, theinner and outer edges of saidplates constituting respectively the inner and outer walls of thechamber, and a surrounding casing provided with transverse openingssubstantially throughout its entire circumference.

composed of a plurality of plates placed side by side, the inner edgesof the plates constituting the inner wall of said chamber.

10. A muffler having a mufliing-chamber provided with a wall composed ofa plurality of plates placed side by side, and non-yielding adjustablemeans for controlling the compactness of said plates.

11. A mufiier having a muflling-chamber provided with a wall composed ofa plurality of irregular plates.

12. A muflier having a muffling-chamber provided with a wall composedofa plurality of irregular plates placed side by side, and means forregulating the compactness of said plates.

13. A mufller-chamber composed of a plurality of transversely-irregularplates side by side, said plates having transverse registering openingsconstituting a muffiing-chamber.

14. A mufiEler including a muffler-chamber com posed of a plurality ofcircular transverse irregular plates side by side and provided withtransverse registering openings, the openings constituting amufliing-ehamber, a

' surrounding perforate casing removed therefrom and forming anintervening expansionchamber.

15. A muffling-chamber composed of a plurality of plates side by sideand provided with transverse registering openings, supporting membersfor and passing transverse the plates, and non-yieldingplate-compressing memb'ers.

16. A muffling-chamber composed of a plurality of plates side by sideand provided with transverse registering openings, heads at opposit'eends of the plurality of plates, and non-yielding adjustable membersconnecting the said heads.

17. A mufifling-chamber composed of a plurality of plates side by sideand provided with transverse registering openings, heads projectingbeyond the peripheries of said plates, and a perforate cylindersupported by said projecting heads.

18. A mufiiler including an initial expansion-chamber, having inlet andoutlet open-- ings, and a mufliing-chamber composed of annular platesplaced side by side, the openings of the plates registering with eachother and with said outlet-opening.

19. A mufiler including an elongated horizontal mufiling-chambercomposed of a plurality. of annular plates set on edge side by side,whereby a uniform escape resistance between said plates can bemaintained.

20. A muffler including an elongated horizontal mufliing-chambercomposed of a plurality of plates set on edge side by side, whereby auniform escape resistance between said plates can be maintained.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER WINTON. Witnesses GEO. H. BROWN, Tnos. HENDERSON.

